** 125 years on, Minto keeps vision clear

It is now an internationally acclaimed eye hospital,” Dr Sujatha said.   Infrastructure was upgraded in 1961 with 200 beds, and PG courses were also started here in 1962.

 Minto Ophthalmic Institute aka Minto Hospital, which had its beginnings in a tiny clinic in Chickpet in Bengaluru, and then shifted to a small lodge in Lalbagh, is celebrating its 125th anniversary. 

Dr Sujatha Rathod, hospital director, traced the history of Minto. “On November 9, 1886, the hospital started as a dispensary called ‘Bangalore Eye Hospital’ in a small building in Chickpet. In 1903, the foundation stone for the administrative and in-patient block was laid by Sree Krishnaraja Wadiyar Bahadur and was expanded in 1917 to a 100-bed hospital.

** NGO promoting agro forestry in Belagavi

Green Saviours, a Belagavi-based NGO, is creating awareness about afforestation and is promoting the practice of agro forestry among farmers in some villages in the district.

As part of Project OMG-(One Millions Greens), it aims at planting 10 lakh trees by December 2025. As part of the project, small farmers are being provided fruit trees to set up agro forestry plots. Nearly 10 acres of land is now being converted from traditional farming to Syntropic Agro Forestry System.

** Three new judges of High Court take oath

There are now a total of 46 judges

The number of judges in the High Court of Karnataka has increased to 46 with the swearing-in of three newly appointed additional judges on Monday.

Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot administered the oath of office to Justices Anant Ramanth Hegde, Siddaiah Rachaiah, and Kannankuzhyil Sreedharan Hemalekha at the Raj Bhavan.

** Unkal lake renamed

Members of Some Veerashaiva Lingayat organisations renamed Unkal Lake as Sri Channabasava Sagar after Sri Channabasavanna, 12th century saint, in Hubballi on Sunday.

They celebrated the Sri Channabasavanna Jayanti and performed puja to Sri Basaveshwara and Sri Channabasavanna. Some women carried Vachana books on their heads and chanted Vachanas.

** Orange seller receives Padma Shri award

He opened a primary school, his story is narrated in schools

Students of the government school promoted by Harekala Hajabba at New Padpu in Harekala rejoiced as they watched him receiving Padma Shri award from President Ram Nath Kovind live from Delhi on Monday.

The school had made the arrangement to enable students and teachers to watch the live programme of presenting of the national civil awards. The students clapped and shared the enjoyment.

** IBM opens Client Innovation Centre in Mysuru

IBM opened a Client Innovation Centre (CIC) in Mysuru on November 8 in response to the ‘Spoke-Shore Strategy’ floated by Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), a special entity to take businesses ‘Beyond Bengaluru’.

As an entrepreneurial startup within IBM Consulting, the CIC would specialise in design, software engineering and analytics while supporting clients in their business transformation journey.

** Creating art, pinch by pinch

A 28-year-old pandit is lending a novel touch to the tradition of rangoli, ensuring that the art form gets its due recognition.

With his creativity, deft fingers and mastery over a very ancient art tradition, Pujari Akshay Jalihal sprinkles magic!

The 28-year-old resident of Bengaluru’s Chandapur has stormed an art bastion, traditionally helmed by women artists – rangoli! While the typical, yet popular, floral and geometric designs are familiar, especially outside houses, Jalihal has gained proficiency in creating eye-catching rangolis on varied themes and personalities.

Recently, he was in the limelight for his creation, depicting the state’s tourist attractions on Kannada Rajyotsava Day at Dr BR Ambedkar Metro station, and another on late actor Puneeth Rajkumar at Kanteerava Studios, which he put together after receiving a call from the Chief Minister’s Office.

** He gave up his job to pursue his passion

Arun Yogiraj sculpted the statue of Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya at Kedarnath

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the statue of Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya at Kedarnath on Friday the city-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj who watched the proceedings from Mysuru, was overcome with mixed feelings.

Though there was a sense of joy in having successfully completed the task, it was supplanted by grief over the recent death of his father – B.S.Yogiraj Shilpi – from whom he inherited the family tradition. His father was a recipient of many awards including the Amarashilpi Jakanachari award instituted by Karnataka Shilpa Academy and the Karnataka Rajyothsava award.

An MBA from the University of Mysore, Arun Yogiraj trained for six months in the HR Department of a private company. “But I listened to my inner voice and left the private sector job and returned to Mysuru to carry forward the family tradition,” he said.